“For it is the time [destined] for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not respect or believe or obey the gospel of God” (1 Peter 4:17)?

Before we get into this Word, let’s pray: Spirit of the Living God, illuminate your Word, breath your Ruach breath on it, that it may come alive in us, and through us feed may. In Jesus’ matchless name we pray, amen.

“Punishments never come into the world unless the wicked are in it; but they do not begin unless they commence first with the righteous.”—Writings of the Rabbi’s

We read last week that the world today, our society—is more spiritually polarized, that is, more divided, than at any other time we’ve witnessed in our collective recollection. Save that of the days of Noah. Clear lines of demarcation have been drawn in the proverbial sand. Those who acknowledge the One True God—Jesus, on the one side, and those who are doing their level best to eradicate Him, and anything to do with Him—out of our consciousness, our world, our way of life—on the other.

Last week we read also that a great sifting is occurring in the world. Now I don’t profess to know what ‘stage’ of that sifting we are in—I leave that to the far more learned and discerning for comment. But, the evidence I see in my life, the ‘pressure’ of the Potter’s Hands on me—doing the work of extracting whatever impurities He has found in me, bringing me to the place where I must make a bold, a certain, and a pure stand for Him—no matter what happens, is clear. I am being broken that I may be built back up. Sifted, that those impurities that serve no purpose in my life—be taken away, removed, that I might be ready—prepared.

God is starting this sifting—as our Scripture indicates, with His Church; His children. He must— in order to purify us, prepare us, for Who and what is yet to come…

He is turning up the heat of the refiner’s fire—burning off our dross, those sins that linger and cling—cleansing us of our impurities, as with gold. He is trying—testing, our faith. Albert Barnes says it this way: The word “judgment” here (κρίμα krima) seems to mean “the severe trial which would determine character.” Scripture describes it this way in 1 Peter 1:6-7: “In this you rejoice greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,  so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in [your] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

When Peter makes this statement, he is speaking to the Church of some impending calamity that is about to come upon all. Jesus too had foretold of a calamity that would come to His disciples prior to the destruction of Jerusalem. We find His Words within Matthew’s, Mark’s, and John’s Gospels. “For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again”—Matthew 24:21. “Brother will betray brother to [be put to] death, and a father [will hand over] his child; and children will rise up and take a stand against parents and have them put to death”—Mark 13:12 “They will put you out of the synagogues and make you outcasts. And a time is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is offering service to God”—John 16:2. This ‘general punishment’ spoken of will fall upon the just and the unjust alike. But if on the just—it is for our strengthening, not our destruction.

For our refining, our building up. It will shake loose all who profess Christ with their mouths—but whose hearts are far from God. Here, Peter is assuring all Jews, believing, and unbelieving alike—a guaranteed outcome is coming. He is affording those who don’t believe time to choose. To return to the One True God. And that same offer is being made today both to the Jew and to the gentile. Whether you believe Scripture as you read it or not—it is Truth, and what it says—will happen. Just as the Jews of Peter’s day had a choice, so too, do we—do you. “For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”—John 6:39 (Emphasis my own).

The sentiment is, that if God deals thus strictly with his people; if there is that in them which makes the visitations of his judgment proper on them, there is a certainty that they who are not his people, but who live in iniquity, will in the end be overwhelmed with the tokens of severer wrath. —Albert Barnes

The mind-blowing fact that God so loved His creation that He sent His Only Son to die in our place, your place, his, her, and their place—that all might be re-united, re-membered, with Him, for all eternity—is both a mysterious blessing, and a free gift. And none, no not one, is worthy of such grace—such mercy, and, neither can we earn it. “For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].” —Ephesians 2:8-9

So, that this judgement, this sifting, and refining, is occurring—should not be a source of fear for the believer. Neither should it be catching us unaware—as we each share the same Spirit who is only ever able to tell us The Truth. Our garments are being washed—we are being made ready to be received by The Bridegroom—Jesus! Receiving all that we have hoped in—and for (1 Thessalonians 5:5)! However, if you’re reading this and you have not asked Jesus to come into your life as your Lord and Savior, today—right now, is the time for you to stop all that you’re doing and ask Him in. Time is short, and He is waiting just for you! Believe it or not…

If you are a believer, rest assured that your trial, your refining is not meant to harm you. It is simply that, a refining, and not a punishment like that visited on those who refuse to humble themselves before God. Remain confident in the knowledge shared with us by Paul—one who has finished his race—has gone before us, and leaves behind these words of encouragement for us to hold tight to: “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Be encouraged today my brothers and sisters! What we must experience— is simply our preparation for Who and what is yet to come! But, God is faithful and True to keep us until His coming. After all, it’s only a trial, and though by fire, an you have lived thus far through many—besides, look how a fiery trial turned out for Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego! “…He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”—Daniel 3:25

“When power is given to the destroyer, he observes no distinction between the righteous and the wicked; not only so, but he begins first at the righteous.” But God limits the destroyer ‘s power over His people. —Rabbins

The fulfillment of this Scripture is happening. This is, ‘that time’, that season, spoken of in the Bible. Whether we are experiencing birth pangs only, or the world is further along, is something too deep for me—again, I leave that to the more learned…

Yet, the same Spirit that was in Peter, in Jesus, is also in me. And it is through His revelation that I am confident in writing, in sharing with you today this simple Truth… (John 16:13-15).

We are being sifted. We must choose to acknowledge God or we deny Him. And, He will return for all that belong to Him—soon and very soon. “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds” (Revelation 22:12).

Solomon assures us that there is nothing new under the heavens. And, as our Scripture points believers towards the day Peter spoke of —the impending destruction that was to come—and of the suffering that would befall all those who loved God and held firm to His Truth and commands—as in the days of Noah, what was, is happening again. And, it will continue to come full circle in ways unimagined…

Yet, so long as it is still today. As long as there is breath in your lungs. It’s not to late! There is still, as John the Baptist heralded, time for all to repent! Because the Kingdom of God is at hand…

It seems only fitting to leave you all, believer and those yet to believe, with the final Words spoken in Revelation Chapter Three by the One who was, and is, and is to come… “Behold, I stand at the door [of the church] and continually knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me. He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will grant to him [the privilege] to sit beside Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down beside My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches.’”—Revelation 3:20-22.

I urge you friend to ask Jesus into your life today!

And Saints— repent of every sin that so easily entangle us, now, while it is still today…